How Long Does It Take to Settle an 18 Wheeler Lawsuit? The time required to settle a truck crash case varies from one to the next. There are many factors that affect the length of time to settle. It can take a long time to determine who is accountable for an accident. A lawyer can help you identify all the liable parties and maximize the settlement. What to Expect The timeline for a settlement of a lawsuit involving an 18-wheeler is contingent on many factors including the possibility of liability and damages. The case may be delayed if parties to the collision do not reach an agreement on who is responsible. If there are disagreements about the evidence or testimony of witnesses, this can delay the trial. Based on the severity of the injuries, the scope of the insurance policy of the trucking company and the current state or federal regulations for commercial vehicles, settlement amounts can vary widely. It's important to keep in mind that plaintiff attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they won't get paid until they prevail or settle a case. It's not a surprise that semi-truck accidents are a major source of revenue for attorneys. Therefore, it's not common for settlements in these cases to reach millions of dollars or more. This is especially true if the trucking company is considered to be negligent. Liability In the United States, there are more than 100,000 crashes each year involving 18-wheelers. Many of these crashes result in serious injuries, or even death. Insurance companies tend to undervalue the injuries and damages of victims in these accidents. However, a good 18 wheeler accident attorney can even the playing field and negotiate with these large insurance companies in order to obtain their clients the most lucrative settlements. The defendants in a lawsuit against an 18-wheeler could be held responsible for a variety of damages, such as economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can include medical bills, lost wages or future earnings. Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and reduced quality of life. Attorneys who represent plaintiffs in 18 wheeler cases work on a contingency fee basis, which means they don't receive any money until they are successful and can negotiate a settlement for their client. They have to pay court costs and also hire experts, specialists, travel and other expenses that go along in winning the case. Damages 18-wheeler accidents could cause serious injuries, especially when they occur at a high speed. Due to the size and weight of these trucks, the impact of an accident can be even more devastating than a typical motor vehicle accident. This means that damages can be more severe as well. In addition to the medical and property damage that can result from an 18 wheeler crash victims can also claim compensation for lost income and the grief caused by the loss of a loved one. A personal injury lawyer can assist you to determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to if you were a victim of an accident involving a semi truck. It's not a secret that litigation can be expensive. Attorneys representing plaintiffs have to pay for travel expenses to take depositions, pay expert witnesses, and pay court costs, so they must get their clients' funds as quickly as possible. There are many ways that plaintiffs can receive their money quicker after a settlement. These are known as post settlement advances or lawsuit loans. They are a great choice for injured parties who need to cover their expenses while they await their settlement. Timeline There are many factors that affect the amount of the time it takes to settle an accident case that involves trucks. The severity of your injuries is an important factor. You should wait until your medical condition has improved to the maximum before you settle. This is because you may be entitled to claim future losses, such as lost wages and diminished quality of life. Your attorney will require evidence to support these claims. A dispute between two parties over the liability or damages could delay the settlement process. This could happen when several insurance companies are involved or the parties disagree about the fault of one party. A reputable truck accident attorney can help you determine if the insurance company offers you a fair amount and if it will cover future and present damages. If the insurance company is not willing to negotiate, you could need to file a lawsuit which could extend the duration of the lawsuit. In some cases it may take an entire year or more to solve the issue. Settlement There are a variety of factors which can significantly extend the time frame required for an 18 wheeler lawsuit to reach a settlement. This includes the severity of injuries and the insurance implications. It could take a bit of time for your doctor's report to show permanent impairments which could affect your future losses. You should never settle an injury claim too quickly as it may leave you without a sufficient amount to cover the full amount of losses. Plaintiff attorneys who take on 18-wheeler accidents are compensated on a contingency basis and do not get paid until they win or reach a settlement. This means that they've to pay for their own money to cover court costs, travel and expert witness fees all during the course of this case. As you could imagine, this can be quite costly. A lot of 18 wheeler plaintiff lawyers make use of post-settlement advances (also known as lawsuit loans or settlement cash advances) to pay for their legal costs out-of-pocket to be able to collect the money that they are owed sooner.